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X @The Economist
The Economist· 2026-02-07 14:20
Disneyland and its five sister parks around the world have come to be the main profit engines of the company. Josh D’Amaro, the next chief executive, runs this division. But he must not ignore the entertainment side of the business https://t.co/JBJqOw1gT8 ...
Paramount pushes quick DOJ review of Warner Bros. bid amid bidding war with Netflix
MINT· 2026-02-07 10:15
Core Viewpoint - Paramount Skydance Corp. is actively seeking to complete the Justice Department's antitrust review of its tender offer for Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. shares in the coming weeks, as it aims to counter Netflix's planned acquisition of Warner Bros. studios and streaming businesses [1][3]. Group 1: Regulatory Review and Approval - Paramount is providing requested information to the Justice Department, which will require a 10-day waiting period to determine if it will challenge Paramount's proposal due to competition concerns [2]. - The Justice Department is thoroughly examining the offers from both Netflix and Paramount, with federal officials reaching out to major Hollywood constituencies for information [6]. - A Justice Department approval does not guarantee that Paramount is clear of regulatory hurdles, as any changes to key terms of the proposal may require resubmission for review [7]. Group 2: Competitive Landscape - Warner Bros. agreed to sell its studios and streaming divisions to Netflix for $82.7 billion, favoring this deal over Paramount's competing bid [4]. - Paramount has resisted increasing its $108 billion bid for Warner Bros., asserting that its offer is superior and more likely to gain regulatory approval [8]. - Warner Bros. and Netflix express confidence in securing approval for their deal, while also acknowledging that the Justice Department's review is expected to extend into later this year [9]. Group 3: Strategic Implications - Securing early regulatory approval is crucial for Paramount to persuade Warner Bros. shareholders to vote against the Netflix deal [3]. - Paramount's strategy includes appealing directly to shareholders and lobbying regulators to bypass the Netflix deal [4]. - A spokesperson for Netflix indicated that the company expects Paramount to declare compliance with federal regulations, emphasizing the value of the Netflix and Warner Bros. partnership [5].
X @Bloomberg
Bloomberg· 2026-02-07 01:01
Paramount is pressing to wrap up a Justice Department antitrust review of its tender offer for Warner Bros shares in the coming weeks, according to sources https://t.co/od5m1vfBtV ...
Are tips taxable? Here's how the new 'no tax on tips' deduction works.
Yahoo Finance· 2026-02-06 19:39
Core Points - The new federal income tax deduction for tips is more complex than the slogan "no tax on tips" suggests, with specific income caps and eligibility requirements [1][2] - The deduction could save tipped workers an average of approximately $1,985 annually, depending on their adjusted gross income (AGI) [2] Eligibility and Income Limits - Not all service workers receiving tips qualify for the deduction; there are strict income limits to prevent high earners from misclassifying wages as tips [3][4] - The deduction phases out for modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) above $150,000 for single filers and $300,000 for married couples filing jointly [7] Qualified Occupations - The IRS has a list of over 60 "qualified occupations" that are eligible for the deduction, which includes various service roles [5][8] - Independent contractors can also claim the deduction, but it cannot exceed the net income from the business where the tips were earned [8] Deduction Details - Workers can deduct up to $25,000 a year in qualified tips, which lowers their AGI and can help them qualify for other tax credits [6] - Qualified tips include voluntary, non-negotiated payments from customers, while automatic service charges do not qualify [6] Reporting and Recordkeeping - Tips must be reported separately on a W-2, and workers should use Box 7 or Box 14 for their deductions [11][15] - Maintaining accurate records of cash tips is crucial, as failure to do so can complicate the deduction process [13][19] Implementation Timeline - The deduction applies to tips earned in the 2025 tax year, and workers can claim it when filing their 2025 tax return [21]
Trump Steps Back From Hollywood's Biggest Bidding War For Warner Bros-Netflix Media Merger: 'The Justice Department Will Handle'
Yahoo Finance· 2026-02-06 18:31
President Donald Trump signaled a major shift in his administration’s approach to the media landscape on Wednesday, announcing he will not personally intervene in the blockbuster $82.7 billion merger between Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) and Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. (NASDAQ:WBD). Reversal Of Influence In an interview with NBC News anchor Tom Llamas, the President reversed his December stance, where he had suggested he would be “involved in that decision” due to concerns over market concentration. Instead, ...
Big-Name Earnings, Selloffs Highlight Busy Week on Wall Street
Schaeffers Investment Research· 2026-02-06 17:53
Market Overview - The week experienced significant drawdowns across various assets including gold, silver, Bitcoin, and tech stocks, particularly in the semiconductor sector [1] - Bitcoin saw a notable decline, dropping below 61,000 before a slight recovery on Friday [1] - The Dow reached a record high on Tuesday but faced a pullback, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq entered negative territory for 2026 [2] - The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) reached its highest level since November, indicating increased market volatility [2] Corporate Earnings - A substantial number of quarterly earnings reports were released, with notable contributions to tech sector challenges from companies like Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Qualcomm (QCOM), Alphabet (GOOGL), and Amazon.com (AMZN) [3] - Despite the tech sector's struggles, some companies like Merck (MRK), Amgen (AMGN), and Eli Lilly (LLY) experienced post-earnings gains [3] - Walt Disney (DIS) reported positive results but still saw a decline in stock price, while Novo Nordisk (NVO) faced a significant drop due to competition [4] - Tapestry (TPR) reached record highs following its earnings report, while Reddit (RDDT) experienced a losing streak before a boost on Friday [4] Future Outlook - The upcoming week is expected to bring more earnings reports and economic data releases [5] - Schaeffer's Senior Quantitative Analyst highlighted the January barometer as a potential indicator for the S&P 500 based on investor sentiment [5] - A list of the 25 best and worst stocks to own in February was compiled, along with key SPX trendlines to monitor [5]
2026:短剧不需要“活人”?
3 6 Ke· 2026-02-06 09:21
2026年,AI漫剧最火的类型,无疑是AI仿真人剧。 截至2月6日,红果漫剧热播榜显示,TOP30中共有8部为AI仿真人剧,TOP100中共计仅有25部为AI仿真人剧。包括《我的东莞姐姐》《末日寒潮我有移动 堡垒我怕谁》等。从上榜作品类型上来看,"AI+仿真人"类漫剧基本上以AI仿真人演绎、AI旁白解说为主。其中,AI仿真人演绎漫剧题材相对泛化,而AI 旁白解说仿真人漫剧类型中,末日、宅斗、逆袭题材则相对吃香。 根据DateEye数据统计,2026年1月漫剧百强榜中,飙升最快的来自于AI仿真人剧,百强率从去年7%提升至38%,总计播放量达25.48亿。其中,《末日寒 潮我有移动堡垒我怕谁》凭借2.3亿播放增量问鼎1月漫剧TOP1,在题材、类型上实现了漫剧市场的新突破;同时,突破10亿播放的AI 2D漫剧《斩仙台 下,我震惊了诸神》的AI仿真人版《斩仙台真人AI版》上架不到一周,也达成播放量突破1亿。 事实上,自去年底尾声开始,AI仿真人剧的播放量、热度便在持续攀升,而在诸多爆款出现后,已然成为短剧赛道的下一个风口。AI仿真人和真人演 员,第一次在短剧"正面交锋"。 01 AI仿真人剧风起 所谓AI仿真人剧,即 ...
Disney Shares Sink Despite Solid Revenue Growth. Is It Time to Buy the Dip?
The Motley Fool· 2026-02-05 17:43
Core Viewpoint - Disney shares have declined to attractive levels despite solid revenue growth, primarily due to CEO Bob Iger's impending departure [1] Financial Performance - Overall revenue increased by 5% to $26 billion, surpassing the consensus estimate of $25.74 billion [2][5] - Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) fell by 7% to $1.63, exceeding the consensus of $1.57 [2] - Segment operating income decreased by 9% to $3.7 billion [5] Segment Analysis - **Entertainment Segment**: Revenue rose by 7% to $11.6 billion, but operating income fell by 35% to $1.1 billion due to higher programming and marketing costs [3][5] - **Streaming Segment**: Revenue increased by 11% to $5.3 billion, with operating income soaring by 72% to $450 million [3][5] - **Sports Segment**: Revenue edged up by 1% to $4.9 billion, while operating income dropped by 23% to $191 million, impacted by the loss of a carriage deal with YouTube TV [4][5] - **Experiences Segment**: Revenue and operating income both grew by 6% to $10 billion and $3.3 billion, respectively [3][5] Future Projections - For fiscal 2026, Disney anticipates double-digit adjusted EPS growth and double-digit operating income growth in the entertainment sector [5] - Low-single-digit operating income growth is expected for the sports segment, while high-single-digit growth is projected for the experiences segment [5] - Continued double-digit EPS growth is projected for 2027 [5] Strategic Developments - Disney's streaming services are performing well, with expectations that the combination of Disney+ and Hulu will enhance engagement and reduce churn [7] - The new ESPN Unlimited app is showing strong early adoption [7] - Theme parks are performing well, with significant expansions planned, including the addition of Frozen Land at Disneyland Paris and new cruise line developments [8] Valuation - The stock is trading at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio below 16, which is considered attractive given the expected double-digit EPS growth over the next two years [9]
Former NBC Cable President Tom Rogers on Netflix-WBD deal scrutiny, Disney leadership changes
Youtube· 2026-02-05 15:18
Group 1: Industry Dynamics - President Trump has shifted his stance regarding involvement in the acquisition battle between Netflix and Paramount Sky Dance for Warner Brothers Discovery, indicating a potential influence despite previous claims of non-involvement [1][4]. - The ongoing congressional hearings reflect a divided opinion on Netflix, with some senators criticizing its content while others express concerns about job security in Hollywood, highlighting the polarized views on media companies [6][8]. - Netflix currently boasts 325 million subscribers, while Warner Brothers, HBO Max, and Discovery collectively have 128 million, raising questions about antitrust implications and market concentration [9]. Group 2: Financial Considerations - The potential merger between Netflix and HBO could lead to a reduction in consumer pricing due to Netflix's strategy of offering the lowest-priced advertising-based streaming service [10]. - There are concerns regarding the financial viability of the acquisition bid, with estimates suggesting that an additional $10 to $12 billion in funding may be necessary to make the bid attractive to Warner's board [13]. - The financing for the acquisition is under scrutiny, particularly given the high leverage involved, which could pose risks if the cable business continues to decline [14][16]. Group 3: Company-Specific Insights - Disney's stock has underperformed, currently lower than it was a decade ago, despite strides in streaming, indicating challenges in the streaming sector and a focus on its parks business, which is receiving a $60 billion investment [18]. - The streaming segment for Disney has not seen significant engagement growth in two years, and linear viewing continues to decline, suggesting that Disney Plus is not capturing the expected market share [19]. - A 4% increase in advertising for Disney's streaming services contrasts sharply with Netflix's projected 100% increase, underscoring the competitive pressures faced by Disney in the streaming landscape [20].